Juventus have money to spend, but should they make Robin Van Persie or StevanJovetic their top player target? Antonio Labbate looks at the pros and cons.

We’ve all been there. The waiter shows you to your table, hands you a menu and, after serving initial drinks, asks if you are ready to order. Decisions, decisions. Welcome to the world of Juventus, a club who have been saving the majority of their transfer funds this summer to sign a ‘top player’ – their main course – which they have spent over a year working up an appetite for.

With EdinsonCavani unlikely to be prised away from Napoli after Aurelio De Laurentiis parted company with PSG recruit EzequielLavezzi, the choice of new forward seems to be down to just two names. Arsenal’s want-away Robin Van Persie and Fiorentina’s ultra-talented StevanJovetic. But who would be the wiser swoop?

It is a conundrum which has undoubtedly been chewed over a number of transfer lunches between President Andrea Agnelli, Coach Antonio Conte, director general BeppeMarotta and his right-hand man, Fabio Paratici, this summer. It’s no secret that the Dutch international is very much on the radar of the club after confirmation that he wouldn’t be renewing in London, while Marotta admitted on Tuesday that Jovetic has the profile of player the Bianconeri are looking for.

Cost-wise, the Bianconeri will have to dig deep in one way or another to grab either player. Although Fiorentina’s €30m cash valuation of Jovetic is obviously high in today’s economic climate outside of clubs who don’t have Arab or Russian investment, his salary would be much lower than the reported €7m a season that Van Persie – also being tracked by the two Manchester clubs – would require.

Jo-Jo could probably be tempted to accept less than 50 per cent of that, while Arsenal are still looking for over €20m in a fee for their forward despite the fact that his contract will expire next June. Can the Old Lady justify spending such an amount on a player who could be available on a Bosman next summer?

One can also argue that Jovetic, at 22, would be more of a guarantee in terms of a re-sale value. Buy him at €30m today and that price could increase year on year given his potential, but it will be harder for Van Persie to keep his valuation rising the longer he stays in Turin. ZlatanIbrahimovic, at 30, has just been transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for around €25m – and they aren’t short of cash.

In terms of economics, it seems that Jovetic would be the shrewder investment, but there are tactical considerations to make. Van Persie has the far superior international experience, both for his country and in the Champions League with the Gunners. Jovetic, considering his nationality, age and current club, has only briefly flirted with the competitions that matter – although he’s been playing in the Italian top flight since 2008.

Van Persie, over the past few seasons at least, is also a proven scorer and that is something that Juve were missing last term. Although only Milan netted more goals than them in Serie A, the Bianconeri’s top scorer was Alessandro Matri with just 10 League strikes. Conte spent the last four months of the campaign alternating Matri with MirkoVucinic, Fabio Quagliarella and Marco Borriello.

On paper, Van Persie would also be pretty much guaranteed a starting shirt in whichever system Conte opts for – whether that be 3-5-2 or 4-3-3. It would be a bit trickier for Jovetic who can play centre-forward, but, as DejanSavicevic has often underlined, he is better used elsewhere. Acquiring Jovetic would give the former Siena tactician another second striker after the recall of Sebastian Giovinco already this summer.

So who would be the right call – Jovetic or Van Persie? The decision may well rest on how confident La Vecchia Signora are of challenging for the Champions League this season. If they think they have a shot of winning it then Van Persie is the guy to plump for, if they feel that they are still a couple of years away from making a bid then Jo-Jo, as alternatives go, wouldn’t be a bad second choice. Now where’s that waiter?

I would say neither as well... What we need is a very solid LWB like Kolarov or Armero and a pure striker like Matri who will make him sweat more and feel the competition and I mean visit the Nerazzuri again for Pazzini...Pazzini and Matri as first strikers, and Giovi, Vuci, Quags as second strikers.Next year get RVP for free if he proves again this year that he is worth it..Forget about Jo-Jo altogether cos he is never gonna be another ADP and NEVER Baggio...

on the 19th July, 2012 at 2:04pm

Anonymous

Since juve can't afford cavani, I would buy doumbia. he is only valued around 20mil by CSKA, has a wage of 3.5mil and is a really good finisher. he isnt the target man that juve need but he would be a better option than jovetic because he can finish really well.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 1:59pm

Fanatico

Completely agree with this Jeff: "I would say neither. I agree with 'Moh'. Juve need a poacher. Juve only hit problems last year when they played lesser teams who 'parked the bus'. I don't see either as pure poachers. Juve need a Trezegol/Inzaghi-style player. And Higuain or Dzeko would be the best fit - based on what's out there - for me"

on the 19th July, 2012 at 1:50pm

Fanatico

Jo-Jo and RVP are to similar in playing styles both feed of of a strong CF. Considering that we have 4 players in that position, it makes no sense to invest any money in either of the two, especially as they are both injury prone. My suggestion is Lewandowski from Dortmund Since it is obvious we won't sign any of the Dzeko, Higuain or Cavani. Matri wasn't our best scorer last season because he was the best but because he was the only one able to play in that advanced role.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 1:48pm

calciatore10

what are you talking about..an article said that Cavani will move but wants 150.000/wk in euros..sounds like he's interested to me..I say give him the number 10 and make him bianconero..

on the 19th July, 2012 at 1:37pm

Jeff

I would say neither. I agree with 'Moh'. Juve need a poacher. Juve only hit problems last year when they played lesser teams who 'parked the bus'. I don't see either as pure poachers. Juve need a Trezegol/Inzaghi-style player. And Higuain or Dzeko would be the best fit - based on what's out there - for me.

It might be overkill is right. Jovetic is certainly who I would choose, because of this age, his value should only go up.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 12:35pm

paul

The blog was about these two and I would go with jo jo out of the two but personally Juventus are better off really trying to force the issue with higuin in my opinion if your going to pay 30 million for jo jo worth looking up real for him.Juventus definitely need a striker that goes without saying ,I would rather Italian but there isn't any good Italian strikers around at the moment.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 12:28pm

s4tch

None of them. Juve need a reliable center forward. Jovetic is a great seconda punta, van Persie is a good striker, but he's not reliable as he gets injured too often. My pick would be either Falcao or Cavani, but I guess Juve can't afford any of them.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 12:05pm

Tom

A very interesting look at the situation and it will be fascinating to see if either of the two players arrive. It would ceratinly be a big statement from Juve for Italian football if they do spend bid after the sales of Ibra, Silva, Lavezzi and Verratti to PSG. Van Persie is a short-term fix, while Juve would have to be patient with Jovetic. If the biggest factor in who to sign is money then you have to go for Jojo. I'm surprised by the 'overrated' comments from other posters. #JoJo-ventus.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 11:34am

James Ando

Jovetic for 30 million is just overkill. Who the hell pay that sum for an overrated player? Seriously?

on the 19th July, 2012 at 11:12am

Neil

Dont see the need for jovetic at all.an out and out striker is essential!van's the man for me,get him for 25 million ish and move on one of matri or quags.van persie's not young but he's certainly not old either and if juve want to get to the latter stages of champs league,they need a proven star to finish the chances that a world class defence and midfield create.forza juve!

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:59am

I miss Nedved

Armero needs to be our next purchase. RVP is not worth it in the long run, Jovetic @ 30mil is ridiculous, even though he would be the new ADP. Best option would be, solidify the team as an attacking whole with Armero, then look for a reasonably priced, SS foreign talent. If Udinese can find these guys, what are our scouts doing? A calculated risk on a French or South American talent may be worth a shot. Without Cavani we won't win the CL anyway but we can still improve on last year.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:49am

Manni

Majority of Juves 1st team are all Italian fella look at the team sheet. So a top foreign goal machine wouldnt be too bad would it??

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:47am

Anonymous

if you want me to choose between a golden talent like Jo-JO or some arrogant unproven dutch -even dutch people know that he is overrated by the English media (us usual) .Am i the only one that can see how jovitic is actually one of the best players in the world !?

so now is the right time to start a team around a jewel like JOJO.RVP can move to man. city as he will be benched most of the time , lets face it he cant compete with the like of Kun ,tevez ,Dzeko ,balo .

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:46am

Fadi Juve

Jovetic is not a pure striker,he is so similar to giovinco, quaglarella and vucinic ... if juve are searching for a top striker, RVP is the one !!

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:45am

Moh

Agree with most of the comments, instead of splashing +20 million on a foreign striker, rather use it to develope young players or sign Destro.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:32am

Manni

@ Berge - u seriously think we do not need ONE world class Goal machine?? after watchin Juve Waste chance after chance last season and no clinical finishing last season i would say it was OBVIOUS thats what we are missing. Had we had that we would have walked the league buy atleast 15pts regardless of what Milan did. and you need that quality in Europe Champs league is unforgiving and if you dont finish ur chances its trouble. That area of the pitch should have been priority.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:31am

Berge

I've always been a fan of homegrown talent , rather than foreign imports. and with the presence of Matri , Giovinco, Vucinic ,Quagliarella upfront , plus the scoring abilities of Pepe , Vidal , Marchisio, Pirlo and even Caceres I'm not sure that we need another striker at least at the moment . I'm not sure that if Van Persie arrives he would fit in right away , If he ever does . I'ld rather spend the money on the Juve youth and depend more on them for our future

on the 19th July, 2012 at 10:18am

louis

Both are fairly risky 1 way or the other imo. And i personally wouldn't be looking at either. Is jovetic really any better than giovinco? I see him as just another player to add to our long list of strikers who'll create a lot but miss too often - giovinco, vucinic, quagliarella and pepe. We just need someone who is clinical - in that respect van persie would be better, but his age and injury proneness are a worry. We quite simply need another Trezeguet, so I'd go for someone like Dzeko.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:58am

Chris Le Galle

@Dereka - I agree completely. Jovetic is an over-rated and injury prone. People spoke about how Veratti isn't worth the asking price, but none seem to think that 30M is a lot for Jovetic which still haven't proved anything in his playing years in Serie A.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:52am

Manni

Not sure about either in all honesty. RVP injury prone isnt tru goal scorer apart frm last season whats he done since 2004? Jov isnt a strker out & out is more of a supprt striker. We hav Gio who isnt a Goal machine either. Dzeko! dont bother the guy is static and doesnt move unless u cross a ball, Higuin is ideal but isnt coming We waste 9 mill on elia ahdn that could have been added on to what was offered for Aguero and we would hav got him. Idealy Falcao, Higuin or Cavani, but nt gonna happen

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:51am

Chris Le Galle

Juve should buy neither. Both are injury prone, over-rated and over priced. RVP only had 1 good season with Arsenal and never really wow-ed with Holland. Jovetic is a gamble not worth 30M. Personally Cavani would have been worth paying a lot for but is an impossible target, so Falcao might be worth a shot. Otherwise they should invest in a promising player who is realistically valued.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:48am

Ismail Zarouni

In my view, Van Persie would be a better option than Jovetic, because Juve needs a top class striker, not underestimating Matri but as a highly experienced player in UCL Juve must get him before geting the Manchester sides involved.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:43am

dereka

In all seriousness i've been hearing about jovetic for the past 2/3 years and i don't see what all the hype is about. I've watched a few firentina games over this time and just seen an inconsistent striker/fantasista lacking pace. Even the usually over the top representation of players given by youtube highlight reels in jovetic's case are padded out with footage of him falling over and "nearly" scoring goals.

Offload Quag and Matri, and sign both of them. That will probably leave Juve short one back-up attacker. However, considering that Giovinco can also act as a second striker, Juve should be covered sufficiently.

Also, fewer strikers leave less players on the bench, and less disgruntled stars.

A Juve of my liking:

Jovetic - van Persie - Giovinco

Vidal - Pirlo - Marchisio

Chiellini Bonucci Barzagli Lichtsteiner

Buffon

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:24am

paul

As a Juventus fan I would go for jo jo when you consider wages age and transfer fee, van persie has only played one full season in 7 at arsenal without injury that's what would concern me about van persie, personally I would like to get higuin from real but that's un likely

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:18am

Moh

Good article but one thing you forgot to mention is both are prone to long term injuries & the last thing this team needs, is another Diego.

Juventus needs a goal poacher, someone like Hernan Crespo or David Trezeguet & the only strikers I see that fits the bill is Higuain & Dzeko, the former would be my choice given the latters desire to play for AC Milan.

on the 19th July, 2012 at 9:09am

Adam

For me Juventus need Cavani....their transfers have been okay Isla is good but Lucio is poor he was all over the place for Inter last season and will be a back up for Juve, Giovinco is the best signing they made Cavani would be the the cherry on top and would = years of dominance since the great fall of Milan.

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